Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides an update on the 2017/18 Schools Budget setting process and general funding arrangements.

Schools Forum is asked to consider the detailed recommendations in the report.

Officer Contact: Peter Hughes on 0161 474 3947 or email peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposed revisions to the Scheme for Financing Schools document to take effect from April 2017, following due consultation with all school governing bodies in the spring term 2017.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Any reductions in funding in the Early Years Block would significantly affect the Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector who were already struggling with increasing costs such as the increasing National Living Wage.

·         Supplementary funding would be provided for Nursery Schools for the duration of the current Parliament and further consultation was expected.

·         The current staffing ratios for maintained nurseries were having a significant impact on staffing costs.

·         Many maintained schools had to use funding allocated for statutory provision to sustain nursery provision.

·         Early years funding was key to developing better outcomes for children in later life and therefore needed sufficient funding.

·         Local Councillors and Members of Parliament were being lobbied and there was cross-party agreement that better funding for early years provision was required.

·         The Minimum Funding Guarantee would protect schools if capping the quantum funding levels resulted in their per pupil funding decreasing.

·         The larger maternity budget for the primary sector was due to there being more female staff in the primary sector than in the secondary sector.

·         Further details about the National Funding Formula for 2018/19 were due to be released prior to the next meeting of Schools Forum and sub-forum groups would be established to discuss the proposals and co-ordinate a response.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the direct transfer of the Education Services Grant retained duties funding into the Dedicated Schools Grant from April 2017 to the Council’s cash-limit budget.

(2) That all School local formula funding factors, except Basic Entitlement, be capped at the 2016/17 quantum funding levels.

(3) That the 2017/18 de-delegation arrangements for Primary and Secondary sectors remain the same as 2016/17.

(4) That the indicative budget allocated for the central/statutory areas be approved as outlined in the report.